assguardians | MARCH APP ROUND TEST DRIVE MEME

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MARCH APP ROUND TEST DRIVE MEME

THE TEST DRIVE MEME

• Got a character you're thinking of reserving/apping next round? PUT THEM HERE!
• Threads here can count as your third person sample!
• Comment with your character's name and canon!
• This is open to everyone! Also, test drivers can tag other test drivers. :)
• Make up your own scenario or have them walk into all the doors or leave it blank for others to do it for you!

Reserves are here, and open on February 23rd at 12:01AM CST.

Application information (including the list of pending apps) is here,
and they open on March 2nd at 12:01AM CST.

OPTIONAL SCENARIO: After your character receives his or her bracelet and the run-down from the faceless maids in the castle, they walk out into the city to find aromatic flowers sprouting pretty much everywhere. Vines twist up the sides of buildings and creep across the streets, topped with enormous and colorful blossoms. Careful not to trip!

Make sure to have fun, and as always, feel free to hit the mods or players up with any questions you might have! ♥

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[Her heart takes up new lodgings in her throat at that voice; poised with a foot either side of a vine, Narcissa at first thinks she's hearing things. Retracting her foot with care, she turns slowly to the source of the voice, her expression carefully blank.

Surely not. Surely not - he's meant to be at Hogwarts.

Blue eyes find her son immediately, and her voice only quivers slightly when she speaks.]

Draco, darling, do come down from that tree. [So she can make sure she's not as mad as Bella is and hug him until his ribs crack.]

[Even if he doesn't say anything, the sheer change in his posture suggests that he'd still been bracing himself for an entirely different answer. Asgard was a place that had been more of a trial than a triumph and though he'd been in the city for years now, nothing was ever certain.

He wasn't even certain that this would go well, especially...well. Severus had been the one to point out how disappointed his father would be, but surely his mother would understand, right? Surely she wouldn't be too taken aback by the fact that he's in dire need of a haircut and he was actually wearing a hooded sweater and jeans.

The longer he thought about it, the more disgusted he suddenly felt. He's quite sorely tempted to stay hidden among branches, but then again the overwhelming desire to basically say "fuck it" and return immediately to Narcissa's side is stronger.

It's not so much that he climbs down from the tree but rather floats, landing on the ground softly and trying to meet her eyes.

'Please don't be disappointed, please don't be disappointed, please don't be disappointed.'

Keeping his head high he took the few steps to close the distance between them, standing before her. Though he shouldn't be he looks two years older, nearly twenty now if he was calculating time right. The bright side was that he looked a tad healthier than he did during the height of the war, at least.]

...'lo. [Seriously, Draco? That's all you're going to say? It's hard to keep the shake out of his own tone though.]

[There are several things wrong with this picture, and the tension in the neck of the young man who floats (FLOATS, she saw that) down from the tree suggests that he's very well aware of it.

Height. Weight, the pallor of his skin has lifted, his hair is a disgrace, he's dressed in-- are those jeans?, and he greets her with a syllable. She's grateful it wasn't "hi", but not even a "'lo, Mum"? Narcissa's jaw tightens a fraction. Her son... is not this young man. Not yet, at any rate.

But those eyes... she's known those eyes from the moment they opened, and that tremor in his voice is the one she knows is there when he's completely terrified that something isn't going to go his way. Her son - her precious, only child - is alive and well and standing before her.

Quick as a striking snake, her arms are around him, holding him as tightly as she can manage, and Narcissa is shaking with the effort of keeping back her sobs of relief.]

[There are several things racing around in his mind at this particular moment:

1.) "Oh dear Merlin what the hell did I just say to her."
2.) "Why did I pick today to wear this?
3.) "This is bad. This is bad, this is bad, this is bad."
4.) "I am no longer a Malfoy."

He's blatantly aware that everything is completely wrong and against everything he'd been raised to believe and everything his parents had worked to teach him. He doesn't miss that tightening of the jaw and he opens his mouth to begin explaining when suddenly there are arms around him nearly crushing his ribcage and without missing a beat he's returning the hug and all but burying his face into her shoulder. For the most part, he's not doing much better at keeping his composure judging by the harsh sound of his breathing but he can totally stand on his own two feet. Really. Just ignore that extra-tight grip.

There are a lot of questions he has but he's not even sure where to begin. When he does speak though his voice is muffled into her shoulder (and he mentally scolds himself yet again for his lack of appropriate behavior.]

When did you arrive? [A pause.] When did you arrive from? [It doesn't matter. It really, really doesn't matter because she's here and she recognizes him and honestly that's all he wanted.]

[If this is indicative of his daily wardrobe choices, they're going to need to have a little chat.

Not now, though.

Now, Narcissa is far too busy holding him as tight as he'll let her, elegant fingers clutching desperately in his jumper as though she's afraid he'll slip through them like smoke. One hand dares the journey to his hair, holding him to her. She presses a kiss to his temple, and her answers to his question are quietly spoken into shaggy blond strands (another little chat waiting to happen).]

Ten minutes ago. The Dark Lord-- there's a battle. There will be, that is. I needed to know you were safe, darling boy, I couldn't bear the thought of losing you to this ridiculous war!

[If he's honest with himself, he doesn't mind in the slightest and has absolutely no intentions on pulling away first. It's about time Asgard rewarded him for his efforts...after all, Potter got both of his parents.

But, of course, Asgard wasn't a suitable place for Narcissa either. Everything was complicated]

A battle. [The words are hollow at best. He knows precisely what she's talking about thanks to the other kids his age, but it's hard to think that even his mother is further in time than he is.] ...the battle at the school, is it? [Where his mother lied to the Dark Lord's face.

Yeah. He's still very, very astonished and overwhelmed by that fact.]

[This is most certainly not a suitable place for Narcissa; the great gaping hole where her magic should be notwithstanding, she should be in Scotland, searching for the very boy she now holds so tightly, seeking to keep him from harm.

Perhaps she stepped on the wrong twig, as the conquering army (her only way in, Voldemort's victory or loss is completely irrelevant to her now) carried the body of Harry Potter through the grounds of the school (Narcissa hopes with every fibre of her being that the Boy Who Kept Bloody Living would have the good sense to continue to play dead until the opportune moment). Oh, yes, she lied, with a straight face and a mother's instinct.]

Yes-- [She relaxes her hold, seeking his familiar grey eyes - his father's eyes, and both sets dear to her - with her own bluer ones.] --you said "when did I arrive from". Do expand on that.

[Do not tell her you die, Draco Malfoy, or so help her, she'll kill you.]

[When Narcissa loosens her death-grip on him, and only then, he looks up at her and despite the fact that he looks pretty ordinary and messy his eyes are still sharp. Very much Malfoy, very much betraying the fact that he's simultaneously ecstatic and terrified all at once.

It's...probably best not to mention to her exactly the things that have occurred in Asgard, what with Voldemort cutting a large gaping wound into his left forearm, or his death mere months before that. Probably best not to mention his half-dog girlfriend either. Expanding on things might get him in trouble and he chooses his words carefully.]

We are not the only wizards from our world, Mother. [He rolls his eyes upward (another nasty habit he'd picked up since living in the city) as he mentally made note of how many people were in the city now.] There's at least ten of us, but hardly anyone is from the same period in time. It's something to do with the city, Loki very vaguely explained it to me but he's been a tad more helpful than some of the other gods.

...for example, when I return home it will still be Easter holidays.

[She recognises that look only too well; the Dark Lord's presence in their home had engendered just such a look in the eyes of both Malfoy men far too often.

Part of her wonders just what prompted it this time (don't tell her any of that. Not today, at least. She might be devoid of her magic, here, but that doesn't mean she won't be incredibly upset), but rather than pursue that line of questioning in the street, she listens carefully to his response.

And brushes her thumb over his cheek when his eyes roll.] Don't roll your eyes, darling.

...Easter-- [Sorrow darkens her gaze, though she knows better than to let it rule her expression, not out in the street.] The others have told you what happens, I presume? [Ten of them, someone must have.]

[Definitely, definitely not today. As it is the information that's being exchanged is already overwhelming as it is. Instead there's just the slightest lean into her hand and he focuses. Right. No more ridiculous habits. He doesn't verbally apologize, but the look clearly says that it won't happen again.]

...yes. Potter and Granger both mentioned it. [There's a long lull then as he allows himself to study Narcissa closely. It really isn't a surprise, after all. Family was the most important thing for Malfoys, especially Narcissa. It seemed to be a family trait, actually. Doing dangerous things to try and get to the ones you love most. After the initial shock of finding out she lied to Voldemort wore off, he analyzed the situation to hell and back and it was probably one of the most comforting thoughts he'd had in the city. The war was over and his mother played a huge hand in that because she needed to get to him.

Without realizing it his lips twitch into a small, closed-lipped smile. War's not funny. War's not something to be happy about, but there's still a lot of conflicting emotions tied to everything.] Yes. Everything's changed now.

[That's her darling boy - and he'll always be that, even though she's looked up to see him for two years, now.]

Potter did? [The wheels start turning. Yes, she'd lied, and she'd do it again without thinking about it. By the time they'd got to that point of the war, Narcissa was wandless, a scapegoat, and holding onto her place by sheer virtue of the fact that her sister still loved her, somewhere under the madness that addled her mind. The Dark Lord had flung a hex her way (she's yet to check under her blouse for any damage, mostly because there is no blood. though there is definitely bruising) to force her compliance in checking the boy, and when he'd told her Draco still lived? The number of fucks Narcissa now gives for this war can be counted on one hand, and neither belong to Voldemort.

A conquering army was her way in to find her son, so she'd given him a conquering army, and the chance for Potter to end it.

Rather generous of her, really.]

Was it worth it?

[Do they live through it?]

[Perhaps it's also for the best at the moment not to tell mother dearest that he's on really shaky yet civil terms with the wizarding hero. Though he's grateful for the information. Things were a little easier to handle knowing that the war was over, his family was safe, and neither he or his father landed a sentence in Azkaban. It just made sense to make sure that Narcissa knew as well, didn't it? Details weren't necessary, just the basic facts.

So what if he basically had the information handed to him? He deserved a break.]

Yes. [He sounds more relieved than anything.] It was more than worth it. [Better than any of them could imagine...he frowns suddenly then as a thought occurs.]

Of course the gods seemed to have missed the memo and require us to enter into their war instead.

[He's a hero by merest accident in the first instance, and her deliberate machinations in the second. Don't put him on a pedestal.

Narcissa does visibly relax, though, tension draining from her shoulders and the line of her jaw softening.]

That's all that matters. It was all for you, and I'd do it again, every day for the rest of my life to see you safe.

[He's her son, and she'd been terrified for his well-being. It's an entirely different thing here, though.]

Yes, about that. Are they quite aware that we're already in one?

[He still taunts him daily and thinks he's useless, no worries there.

The words are definitely a comfort though. He's just glad she'll never have to.] From what I've heard, we're safe now. You, Father and I are all alive and safe. [He's very careful to skirt around the subject of Lucius, easily sliding into the next topic. Here he knows a great deal more about the war and the happenings of the world than he did back home. Here he could actually do what he was trying to accomplish. Here he could protect people he loved.]

Quite. They're absolutely incorrigible. I've spoken with several of them, they don't appear to understand the point. Since time at home seemingly stops, all that matters to then is what is happening in this world. They hardly seem to know who exactly they'll be bringing in every time they throw out a tie to one of the other worlds.

[It might have more impact were Draco not dressed so... casually.

But there's another hug, because she needs to reassure herself that he's really here, with her, in this preposterous nightmare, and safe. And not talking about his father, which Narcissa notes immediately and finds odd. Draco had ever been one to trail after Lucius, and that's yet another thing to add to her list of things to follow up.]

So we're to simply suspend our own needs for theirs, and accept their rampant disorganisation because they've given us pretty bangles and a consolation 'power'?

[He already knows there's an ever-growing large list of things they'll have to discuss later, and while it's a little unnerving he's not too concerned just yet.]

That's essentially what they want us to believe, yes. Ridiculous, isn't it? Most of the powers are hardly impressive.

...the city can be quite dangerous though, and not necessarily just because the gods are disorganized. The war's actually begin to grow a tad more complicated than anticipated.

[She's not quite at the point of writing things down, but it's becoming very clear that he's not quite the boy she's been looking for. Time here has most definitely had an effect on her son, and Narcissa needs time to evaluate the changes and what they mean.]

...I don't think I was told what mine actually is. You'd think they don't actually want us doing anything at all.

[Not really a conspiracy theory, but all this kidnapping seems a little haphazard.]

War is never complicated, darling. It's only people who make it so, and perhaps the street isn't the best venue for this conversation.

[Currently, his main instinct is to run. Run off to the apothecary, immediately chop off his hair and find a tie and then find her again. But he won't. Instead he's just focusing on the conversation before idly glancing at her wrist.]

The bracelet should provide some sort of a clue depending on the stone color. [He can clearly see it's red...Freya. Of course his mother's in Freya, why wouldn't she be?] They should explain more at the welcome house in your district.

[...everything's so awkward, but even after all this time she knows exactly what to say to shut him up. He simply nods, glancing down the street. On the one hand, he doesn't want to leave Narcissa on her own because mother and also it's too suspicious. On the other, he needs to regroup, and fast.]

I need to pick up a few items from an apothecary located in the city, but I can meet you at Freya's welcome house. [He immediately knows as soon as the words leave that this was not the right route for that statement.]

[While a haircut and appropriate attire would be lovely, Narcissa would rather he stayed with her. She only lied to the Dark Lord to get to him, after all.

She follows his gaze down to the stone on her bangle, then her eyes seek his - and don't find it, hidden beneath his sleeves.]

--I hope it's something useful, if they're going to strip us of the very fibre of our beings... [Trailing off at his next words, she gives him a reproachful look.]

Draco Malfoy, I have just about moved heaven and earth to find you, and you're going to abandon me for an apothecary?

[Needless to say, she's not impressed.]

[In terms of things that Narcissa's not used to, he knows he's just adding to that pile by giving her a guilty look. Draco had never been in the habit of lying to his mother or keeping secrets, but there were several things he could only imagine would make her stay in Asgard worse. He can't meet her eyes as he replies.]

Just for a brief moment... [Without a business partner now, he had a bit of extra work to catch up on. But then again Narcissa does take priority...

...having a taste of independence may or may not have completely wrecked things.] I suppose it could wait of course.

...how brief.

[For Merlin's sake. She has just made the most dangerous decision of her life to try and get to him, only to have these gods and their city spirit her away. Narcissa is thankful beyond measure to have found him again--

--but of course, he isn't the same boy she's seeking. He's older, ostensibly wiser, and most definitely with a life of his own, here. It's an uncomfortable feeling, especially since he's so clearly accustomed himself to new habits.]

Incredibly. Twenty minutes, perhaps. [Enough time to assess the situation, enough time to figure out if Jade can cut his hair for him, enough time to not freak out that his mother's now in danger being in this place and he has to protect her.

It's mildly overwhelming.] I promise not to be longer.

[Her hand finds his jaw, her thumb resting on the apple of his cheek as she gives him a searching look. Letting him go now that she's just found him again is a struggle.

A difficult one.

The mere thought of him leaving her side ever again is a twist in her gut, but Narcissa is not so ruled by her heart that her head can't chime in with calm logic. He's in the city. He won't be going far. He intends on coming back.]

Go. The sooner you do so, the sooner you're back with me.

[He leans into her hand again, finding it difficult not to do so and part of him wants to change his mind entirely. You know, just say he's actually going to skip out and follow her back to her welcome hall and hide away from the world.

But that won't work. He has to be composed and alert and right now his head's a bit of a mess. With regret he pulls back to stand up straight, hand moving to capture Narcissa's before it strays too far.]

I'll find you immediately. Please be careful. [And he squeezes her hand, lingering for a moment before drawing away.]

[If she doesn't turn away, she won't let him go.

Narcissa's shoulders move her body, not her head, and she begins walking before she can talk herself into following him. Her hand feels empty without his touch, and her gait is shortened by her stiff posture, tension disguising the injury to her ribs.

She'll see him soon enough.]

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MARCH APP ROUND TEST DRIVE MEME

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